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Is it time that companies were persuaded to spend?

This week we learned just how big Apple's stockpile of cash really is - more than $97billion.

And it's estimated that in the US alone, companies are sitting on a collective pile of $1.7 trillion in cash.

Governments want them to spend - but will they?

Or does the economic downturn in the West mean many will continue to hoard?

We also ask whether there is a "Great Levelling" going on in the global economy; developing countries are growing while the North Atlantic stands still.

To discuss the issues Justin Rowlatt is joined by the senior Africa economist at Standard Chartered Bank, Razia Khan; Kate Robertson who is the chair of the UK Group of Euro RSCG companies, one of Europe's biggest advertising groups.

And from Geneva Caroline Kende-Robb, who is the Executive Director of the Africa Progress Panel.